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Ħamrun offers chocolate lovers a treat

October 26, 2019, 12:26 am
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A Beauty and the Beast chocolate centrepiece was one of the main attractions at last year’s festival. Photos: Mark Zammit Cordina

The 11th edition of the Ħamrun Chocolate Festival promises to deliver the ultimate chocolate experience. The festival is hosting chocolate makers from Malta, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Poland, the US, Brazil and the UK. There will be live demonstrations of chocolate recipes and creative applications, such as chocolate painting on canvas, chocolate tattoos and body painting, chocolate sculptures, cocoa painting and the making of chocolate centre pieces. [attach id=783018 size="medium" align="right" type="image"][/attach] Various bands in St Joseph High Street and in various adjacent roads will add to the festive atmosphere. There will also be a children’s corner. This event is being organised by the Ħamrun local council in collaboration of the Ministry for Tourism and the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Daniel’s Shopping Complex, Malta Diary Products – Benna,  Twistees, the Ħamrun business community and various local organisations. The festival is taking place today from 6pm onwards near the Ħamrun scouts quarters and in St Joseph High Street.
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More than €800,000 raised for a second Dar Bjorn

October 26, 2019, 12:35 am
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Peppi Azzopardi and Bjorn Formosa during Friday night's Xarabank. Photo: Facebook

A fundraiser to drum up funds to build a new care home for people living with neurological conditions raised more than €800,000 for the cause on Friday night. The €801,616 raised by people who donated to Xarabank fundraiser will be used to help create a new Dar Bjorn, which is named after ALS campaigner Bjorn Formosa.  Speaking just after the fundraising total was revealed, an emotional Mr Formosa thanked all those who had contributed.  “We took another step forward but the important thing is that we never give up. This project must happen,” he told Xarabank’s audience.  In a video posted to Facebook shortly afterwards, Xarabank presenter Peppi Azzopardi singled out the generosity of a former Dar Bjorn resident who had left €5,000 in his will to be used to help build a second Dar Bjorn.  Mr Formosa, who has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness around ALS since he was diagnosed with it in 2015 aged 28, has already built a care home in Qormi.  That home is however already full, prompting him and his wife Maria to campaign for a second care facility.  They now hope to have a second Dar Bjorn up and running by the end of 2020. 
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More than 70 felines on catwalk this weekend

October 26, 2019, 12:38 am
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More than 70 felines will be parading the catwalk this weekend in a beauty competition organised by the Malta Feline Guardians Club. Household cats will join the furry Persians, Balinese, Bengals, British Shorthairs, Burmese, Devon Rex, Exotics, Himalayans, Mainecoons, Ragdolls, Scottish Folds, Siberians, Siamese, and the not-so-furry Sphynx to take part in this weekend’s cat show. The show, which includes packed days of entertainment, is being held today and tomorrow at the Montekristo Estate, Ħal Farrug. The show is open between 10am and 6.30pm. Entrance is free. For more information, visit www.maltacatshows.com or the Facebook page Malta Cat Shows. The MFGC International Cat Show is sponsored by Madagascar Id-Dinja tal-Annimali, the pet educational programme, aired on TVM & TVM2.  [attach id=783285 size="large" align="left" type="image"][/attach]  
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Over a million protesters demand Chile president's resignation

October 26, 2019, 1:06 am
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Demonstrators in Santiago stand opposite lines of soldiers deployed by the government. Photo: AFP

More than one million people took to the streets in Chile Friday for the largest protests in a week of deadly demonstrations demanding economic reforms and the resignation of President Sebastian Pinera. The leader told the thronging masses that he had "heard the message" in a post on Twitter, characterising the protests in a positive light and as a means towards change. Demonstrators carrying indigenous and national flags sang popular resistance songs from the 1973-90 Augusto Pinochet dictatorship era as the country, usually seen as one of the most stable in Latin America, grapples with its worst violence in decades. Santiago's governor Karla Rubilar described it as "a historic day" on Twitter, praising "a peaceful march... representing the dream of a new Chile." Rubilar said more than a million were demonstrating around the country, while Santiago's town hall put the number of people marching in the capital at 820,000, citing police figures. For the past week, Chileans' pent-up anger has spilled over in the form of protests against a socio-economic structure that many feel has left them by the wayside, with low wages and pensions, costly health care and education, and a big gap...
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30th Sunday in ordinary time: Two-track religion

October 26, 2019, 3:01 pm
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Today’s readings: Ecclesiasticus 35, 12-14.16-19; 2 Timothy 4, 6-8.16-18; Luke 18, 9-14. According to a recently published report by the European Commission on tax evasion by individuals, Malta ranks in a top position on this plague. This says a lot about us, especially when it is coupled with another first that Malta holds in the EU, namely, that of Mass attendance. The two firsts are very contradictory, and together depict very clearly the type of religion that characterises  this country and this people. This calls for a deep and honest revision of what our religiosity truly stands for, very much in line with what Jesus is addressing with today’s gospel parable. It is the parable about two people in the Temple, one full of himself and parading his religiosity, the other a contrite tax collector asking for God’s mercy. It has now become commonplace for us to interrogate ourselves on our religiosity as a people and I am not at all inclined to enter some sort of self-castigating attitude. We all acknowledge the benefits that religion bestows on the life of a nation. But as a Church and as individuals, we are all accountable to God and society alike if we are being suicidal where...
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Synodality – not just a dream

October 26, 2019, 3:01 pm
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Parish assemblies will be held in our 70 parishes over the coming weeks. The assembly provides space for active participation to all those who wish to speak or put forward their proposals related to pastoral work. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Pope Francis places great emphasis on synodality – the experience of a lived journey together as one Church. The Diocesan Synod (1999-2003) of Malta was an expression of this synodality. As a result of the synod, parish assemblies started being held. Vatican Council II teaches that the Church is the People of God, where everyone enjoys equal dignity as children of God, and everyone is called to a full, visible and active participation in the life of the Church. Parish assemblies are a tangible experience of this teaching. A parish assembly is not just an additional activity of the parish. Its objective is to bring together all the activity of the parish in such a way as to facilitate a shared vision and direction. It is an event that gives meaning to all the work carried out in the parish on a daily basis. When built on good foundations and when they face the challenges of today, a parish assembly has the potential to develop meaningfully and provide guidance to the Christian communities in our parishes. The following are some positive aspects that already exist or that can develop in the years to come: 1. Communal discernment – It is essential that the assembly serve as a...
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Quotes and news - October 27, 2019

October 26, 2019, 3:01 pm
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‘I am a mission’ On Mission Sunday Pope Francis said: “This missionary mandate touches us personally: you are a mission; every baptised man and woman is a mission. People in love never stand still: they are drawn out of themselves; they are attracted and attract others; they give themselves to others and build relationships that are life-giving. As far as God is concerned, no one is useless or insignificant. Each of us is a mission to the world, for each is the fruit of God’s love. Even if parents betray their love by lies, hatred and infidelity, God never takes back his gift of life. From eternity He has destined each of his children to share in his divine and eternal life.”      Food for everyone? In a message to FAO director gene­ral Qu Dongyu, the Pope said: “It is a cruel, unjust and paradoxical reality that, today, there is food for everyone, and yet not everyone has access to it, and that in some areas of the world food is wasted, discarded and consumed in excess, or destined for other purposes than nutrition. [Some 820 million people in the world suffer from hunger, while almost 700 million are overweight, victims of improper dietary habits.]” (Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)
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CAM assembly

October 26, 2019, 3:01 pm
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Photos: Charles Spiteri

The Catholic Action Movement (Gozo) held its 2019-2010 assembly at its headquarters in Victoria. Following a PowerPoint feature about two saintly members who practised pity and service for the needy and a short speech by diocesan president Antoine Vassallo, diocesan ecclesiastical assistant Canon Noel Saliba concelebrated Mass together with other assistants, including the new general ecclesiastical assistant Mgr Frans Abdilla. During the homily, Canon Saliba read a message by Bishop Mario Grech. A youth choir from Żebbuġ animated the ceremony. The programme also included a forum on how to minister the Church.
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Updated: Verstappen stripped of Mexico pole, hands Hamilton sixth title boost

October 26, 2019, 6:30 pm
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Max Verstappen will start from pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen was given a three-place grid penalty and stripped of pole position at the Mexican Grand Prix late Saturday after race stewards ruled he failed to slow for a yellow flag following a dramatic crash which saw Valtteri Bottas bury his Mercedes into a trackside barrier. The Red Bull driver's penalty means that Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was promoted to pole position ahead of team-mate Sebastian Vettel with world champion-elect Lewis Hamilton moved up to third from fourth. The Dutchman, who will start on the second row alongside Hamilton, was also handed two penalty points on his licence after dismissing concerns for the sport's regulations during a news conference.   Verstappen, the winner in Mexico in 2017 and 2018, was on provisional pole when Bottas crashed heavily in his Mercedes at the final corner of his last run in Q3.  He had no need to improve his lap time, as his rivals had failed to beat his first attempt, but sped on.   He told reporters that he saw Bottas's crashed car at the final corner and did not back off, thus setting a new record fastest lap as he improved. Verstappen, the author of his own downfall, said: "I think we know what we are doing otherwise...
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Things to do today - October 27, 2019

October 26, 2019, 10:26 pm
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• Celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Consolation in Gudja. • Visit the Mother, Baby & Child Fair at Hotel Phoenicia, Floriana, from 11am to 9pm. https://www.maltamotherandbabyfair.com. • Visit a pumpkin carving event at Piscopo Gardens, Burmarrad, from 9am to 6pm For tickets, call 2158 3755. • Visit the Eco Market at the Climathon event at Mediatrix Square, Żabbar, from 11am to 5pm. https://ecomarketmalta.com. • Watch the In Guardia historical re-enactment at Fort St Elmo, Valletta, from 11 to 11.45am. http://www.heritagemalta.org. • Watch a screening of a production of Donizetti’s comedy Don Pasquale performed by the UK’s Royal Opera at the Eden Cinemas, Paceville, at 4pm. 2371 0100. www.edencinemas.com.mt. • Laugh out loud at the Bla Kondixin show at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali, at 4pm. https://www.showshappening.com. • Watch Klassi Għalina: The Road Show at City Theatre, Valletta, at 7pm. www.ticketline.com.mt.
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Announcements - October 27, 2019

October 26, 2019, 10:35 pm
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Silver Wedding Ing. GORDON DIMECH and SANDRA SPITERI The marriage took place on October 23, 1994, at St Anne church, Marsascala. Congratulations and best wishes from Jamie and Amelie. Obituaries [attach id=783585 size="small" align="right" type="image"][/attach] BONNICI. On Thursday, October 24, PAUL, director, Bonnici Printing Press, passed peacefully away at Mater Dei Hospital, at the age of 82, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his great loss his sisters Marlene Bonnici, Jane Doublesin, Nathalie Pace, his brother Richard Bonnici of Canada, their spouses, his nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. The funeral leaves Mater Dei Hospital on Tuesday, October 29, at 7.30am, for St Paul Shipwrecked parish church, Valletta, where Mass præsente cadavere will be said at 8am, followed by interment in the family grave at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. Donations to Puttinu Cares, Mater Dei Hospital, will be greatly appreciated. Lord, grant him eternal rest. ELLUL-MICALLEF. On October 25th, at Mater Dei Hospital, PATRICIA  née Stewart, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her devoted husband Roger, her son Robert, her...
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Islamic State head Baghdadi believed dead after US strike

October 26, 2019, 10:44 pm
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Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is believed to be dead after a US military raid in Syria's Idlib region, US media reported early Sunday. Baghdadi may have killed himself with a suicide vest as US special operations forces descended, media said citing multiple government sources. He was the target of the secretly planned operation approved by President Donald Trump, officials said. Long pursued by the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS), Baghdadi has been erroneously reported dead several times in recent years. Officials told ABC News that biometric work was underway to firm up the identification of those killed in the raid. The White House announced Trump would make a "major statement" Sunday at 9am (1300 GMT), without providing details. Baghdadi, a native of Iraq around 48 years old, built the violent jihadist movement into a potent force, in 2014 establishing its own "caliphate" territory across large swathes of Syria and Iraq. It was blamed for the deaths of thousands of civilians, in summary executions and beheadings, and accused of war crimes.  But Baghdadi has been on the run since a US-led coalition slowly destroyed the group's organization and...
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Bishops urge Pope to open priesthood to married men in Amazon

October 26, 2019, 10:49 pm
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Catholic bishops gathered at a special Vatican assembly called on Pope Francis Saturday to open the priesthood to married men in the Amazon, as well as giving women a greater role to play and making damaging the environment a sin. The bishops issued a list of recommendations at the close of a three-week "synod" on the Pan-Amazonian region which highlighted challenges such as the destruction of the rainforest, the exploitation of indigenous peoples and a scarcity in priests. The pontiff said he would be addressing the issues before the year's end. The text could have repercussions not only for the vast, isolated territory, but the whole of the Roman Catholic Church. The synod brought some 184 bishops to the Vatican, over 60 percent of whom hail from the nine Amazon countries. Together with representatives of indigenous peoples, experts and nuns, they discussed a multitude of regional concerns, from climate change to poverty, land-grabbing, mercury-polluted waters and violence against women. The most hotly-debated question was whether or not to allow "viri probati" -- married "men of proven virtue" -- to join the priesthood in remote locations, where communities seldom have Mass...
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Today's front pages - October 27, 2019

October 26, 2019, 10:55 pm
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The following are the top stories in Malta's newspapers on Sunday. The Sunday Times of Malta leads with a disturbing story about migrants having been mistreated in prison after their riot in Ħal Far almost a week ago. The prison authorities have denied the claim.  The Malta Independent on Sunday says no Planning Authority permit has been issued yet for the decommissioning and dismantling of the fuel tanks in the heart of Birzebbuġa. The newspaper also quotes Pierre Portelli, the former head of the PN media, saying that the party needs to learn from its past mistakes. MaltaToday says the lawyer of Vince Muscat, one of the men accused of the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder, has renounced his brief. Dr Arthur Azzopardi said the decision pertained to his law partnership and he did not comment any further. The newspaper also says former Planning Authority chairman Johann Buttigieg is eying posts at the Institute for Tourism Studies or Mater Dei Hospital. It-Torċa says a board of professional people will study what causes loneliness among the elderly. It also features remarks by Prof Carmel Borg that segregation is bad for everyone.  Illum says Swieqi residents are 'terrified' because...
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'Manhandled in prison, cooped up, hosed down like animals... '

October 26, 2019, 11:03 pm
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Some of the migrants being escorted to court last Tuesday. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Updated 9.24 with NGOs' call for an inquiry A number of migrants charged over their involvement in a riot at Ħal Far last week were manhandled, packed like sardines in a cell, locked up all day and humiliated. Two separate sources said the migrants were manhandled in prison by members of the Special Response Team, who also used batons. Some prison warders, also known as correctional officers, were reportedly also involved. In a reaction last night, the Correctional Services Agency of Corradino “strongly denied” the allegations. “The 107 migrants who were admitted this week were all registered, showered, clothed with clean clothes, visited by the medi­cal doctor and fed – that is the same treatment [as] all other inmates. They are now carrying out a normal prison routine until their sentence is terminated or they are released by court order,” Randolph Spiteri, Chief Operations Officer, told The Sunday Times of Malta. He later added there was “no use of force other than the minimum required to control and restrain”. When contacted, Home Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia said: “Like any other claim there will be an investigation. I will not rely on a report or just a denial.” But...
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Malta’s humanitarian crisis

October 26, 2019, 11:29 pm
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If history is in the eye of the beholder, then there are innumerable ways to see and to struggle with the events that took place a week ago at the Ħal Far tent village. What is clear, however, is that these events have called Malta to a crossroads, to undertake an urgent reassessment of the ways in which this country receives and responds to the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers. Monday’s theatre of power, that saw a steady flow of riot police enter the open centre in the aftermath of the incident on Sunday, serves as a clear reminder that the government and people of Malta are still a long way from finding an effective and dignified response to increasing numbers of asylum seekers who, even if only temporarily, call the Maltese islands their home. Our front page story today reporting claims that those arrested faced prison mistreatment is shocking. It is clear that these particular issues have been fomenting for decades. Taken together, they point to a systemic breakdown in the way governments, across party lines, have attempted to confront the complex issue of migration. The explosion of vitriolic hate speech following the riots, splashed across social media and...
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Is the EU ready for new taxation rules for the digital economy?

October 26, 2019, 11:57 pm
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Digitalisation is putting pressure on the international taxation system, as business models change. Photo: Shutterstock.com

The European Commission presented its Digital Taxation Package and proposed new rules to ensure that digital business activities are taxed in a fair and growth-friendly way in the EU. The measures would make the EU a global leader in designing tax laws fit for the modern economy and the digital age.  Essentially, the Digital Taxation Package consists of the following digital service taxation proposals: 1. The proposal for a Council directive laying down rules relating to the corporate taxation of a significant digital presence. Digital technologies bring many benefits to society and, from a tax perspective, they create opportunities for tax administrations and offer solutions to reduce administrative burdens, facilitate collaboration between tax authorities, as well as addressing tax evasion. However, digitalisation is also putting pressure on the international taxation system, as business models change. Policymakers are currently struggling to find solutions which can ensure a fair and effective taxation as the digital transformation of the economy accelerates, and the existing corporate taxation rules are outdated to catch such evolution. The application of the current...
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21 tigers now roam Mtaħleb animal park

October 27, 2019, 12:04 am
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The Mtaħleb park has been the subject of criticism from animal welfare organisations, but remains very popular among the public.

Tigers at the Mtaħleb Wildlife Park have tripled in number since a fire burnt down the premises two years ago. The increase in tigers, which now amount to 21, is mostly the result of breeding, according to the owner of the park, Chris Borg. Mr Borg said he had reached out to a number of international zoos to take some of the animals but without any success. Since its inception in 2009, the Mtaħleb park has been the subject of criticism from animal welfare organisations, but remains very popular among the public. In 2017, a fire broke out throughout the night, devastating the property and killing 15 animals, including two leopards, a lemur, an emu, monkeys and birds. Donations poured in as a result of the tragedy, and the property, which is also home to lions, birds, bears and monkeys was rebuilt with fire-proof facilities within four months. After the fire, Mr Borg believed the animals would be too stressed to conceive, so he allowed them to mate more freely. “After what we passed through, we assumed the animals were stressed and when they are stressed they don’t conceive, so I let them mate.” However, one day he questioned his wife, who also runs the place, over how much meat...
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Pharmacies open today - October 27, 2019

October 27, 2019, 12:06 am
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Collis Williams Pharmacy, 15, Republic Street, Valletta (2122 6281);Chemimart International Pharmacy, 650, St Joseph High Road, Ħamrun (2123 6477);Brown’s Pharmacy, 82, Victory Street, Qormi (2149 9697);Mackie’s Pharmacy, L. Casolani Street, Ta’ Paris, Birkirkara (2149 6089);St Anthony Pharmacy, 56, St Joseph Street, Pietà (2123 7327);Lourdes Pharmacy, Naxxar Road, San Ġwann (2138 7479);Harley Pharmacy, 1, Nathalie Poutiatin Tabone Street, Sliema (2133 4635);Misraħ Kola Pharmacy, Pitkali Street, Attard (2143 4137);Sgħajtar Pharmacy, Sgħajtar Street, Mosta (2141 5198);Qawra Pharmacy, Earl’s Court/1, Imħar Street, Qawra (2158 0881);Sonren Pharmacy, Żejtun Road, Tarxien (2167 2757);Alpha Pharmacy, Maria Immaculata, Cospicua Road c/w Cottoner Avenue, Fgura (2167 3811);St Elias Pharmacy, St Elias Street, Xgħajra (2166 0300);Beta Pharmacy, 50/52, St Mary Street, Għaxaq, (2166 3311);Central Pharmacy, 6, St Joseph Street, Luqa (2169 2546);Brown’s Pharmacy, 47, Freedom Avenue, Żebbuġ (2146 5411);Ideal Pharmacy, 63, Main Street, Rabat (2145 5479);Abela’s Pharmacy, 42, G.P.F. Agius De Soldanis Street, Victoria (2155 6170);Għajnsielem Pharmacy, Independence Square, Għajnsielem...
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Motorcyclist injured in hit-and-run incident

October 27, 2019, 12:09 am
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The site of the accident in Gzira (Goggle Street View).

A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in Gzira late on Saturday. The police said the 26-year-old from Pieta' was injured when his Honda motorcycle was involved in a collision with a van at the corner of Testaferrata Street with Enrico Mizzi street at about 9pm. The van kept on going. Police investigations are underway. READ: Hit-and-run cases average at almost two a day
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